Working with the students at Apache has been a valuable experience; an experience that could never have been gained by setting in a classroom.  I had never heard of a Chautauqua story before this semester.  The day we had to perform for the students was very scary.  How would I ever compare to Houdini.  He was so good!  I should never be surprised at how amazing children can be.  I think our performances may have had more of an impact on them, than Houdini.  My three students never mentioned him, but they asked me several times about some of the UNM student’s Chautauqua characters. This has made me realize what an impact as a teacher I will have on my students.  Children are eager to learn and we must bring a level of enthusiasm into the classroom that keeps them hungry for learning.

The Chautauqua characters helped to improve my communication skills with my students, but more important it has also taught me how to be a good listener.  While scribing their Chautauqua story it was important to listen and them help them expand and develop their character.  Each week as we talked about their characters I watched their confidences grow and mine.  This project has helped me to connect with what it really means to be a facilitator.  It was important to let the students take the lead role and mine to guide those experiences so they could capture the personality and spirit of their character.

I believe peer practice groups played an important part in each student’s success and ours as educationalist.  The ‘stars’ and ‘wishes’ worked very well by getting students to communicate about their Chautauqua character.  The interaction and collaboration with other students and UNM students provided an opportunity for new ideas and feedback, which helped strengthen our student’s characters. 

Our Chautauqua project has helped me to grow more this semester than I originally thought possible.  As I said in my Children’s Literature reflection, the “facilitator” style of teaching has proved that when you take a leading role in your learning; much can be learned and gained.  I think my confidence has soared this semester.  I know that when in doubt, collaborating with another student or with Francis is very helpful.

My technology skills have definitely improved this semester.  Creating a Blog page has been fun and has been helpful in decreasing my fears of having other people read what I write.  In order to stay ahead of the “little technology geniuses” that we will have, I think it is to our advantage to use technology as much as possible.

In each semester I gather and learn from others more skills and strategies.  I have learned that with every assignment and every group of students that I work I am continually learning about new skills and strategies.  Tweaking, rethinking, throwing out and storing away the skills and strategies that are the most successful for me to use and which ones will be most beneficial in helping students accomplish the learning goals in a diverse classroom.

I will take these experiences with me into next semester.  I will build on my accomplishments and continue to grow into the shoes that I will need to fill as an educationalist.  The challenge is great, but I look forward to it with great anticipation. 

Every teacher has told me that time is a teacher's enemy.  I think that applies for the methods classes also.  I wished we would of had time to visit some bilingual classes to observe some of the techniques that are used to help students.  

Expected Grade:  A or A+